wfn.org | Swedish Royalty Visits ELCA Schools

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

NEWSBRIEF

September 13, 1996

SWEDISH ROYALTY VISIT

Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
mark the 150th anniversary of Swedish emigration to the United
States with a visit to a number of historic sites.  Their tour
began in New York, Sept. 10-11, where the royal couple opened an
exhibit on Ellis Island.  "From One Life to Another: Migration to
and from Sweden 1846-1996," is on display until Jan. 20.  The
king and queen met with Boutros Boutros-Ghali, secretary-general
of the United Nations, before traveling to Gustavus Adolphus
College, St. Peter, Minn.  They participated in the Sept. 12
dedication of the college's renovated Nobel Hall of Science.  The
royal couple's U.S. tour takes them next to Augustana College,
Rock Island, Ill., on Sept. 13, and to Bishop Hill, Ill., Sept.
14-15.  Augustana was founded in 1860 as America's first
Scandinavian college.  The village of Bishop Hill was established
in 1846 to emulate Biskopskulla, Sweden -- the birthplace of its
leader, Eric Janson.  Gustavus Adolphus and Augustana are
colleges of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  The king
is regarded as the first member of The Church of Sweden -- the
world's largest Lutheran church with 7.6 million members.  The
ELCA is second with 5.2 million members.

For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG